Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 25, 1931. H. P. BRAEUTIGAM ET AL 1,820,045

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 51, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l S7121 umammw Aug, 25, 1931. H. P. BRA EUTIGAM ET AL 1,820,045

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31 1928 I LLT E E IY 7% 61mg ,Aug. 25, 1931. H. P. BRAEUTIGAM ET AL 1,820,045

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets+Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 51, 1928 gwwmhd WWWy 6mm,

Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A may 2. nmuorrom ANDGmnviLLn s. DIOKZEY, or DAYTONQO IO, ABSIGNOBS r rmonmmn conrom'rxon, orDAYTON, 01110, A CORPORATION OF nmwmn BEI'BIGEBATING AIPABATUSApplication filed August 31, 1928. Serial No. 803,202.

The present invention relates to im rovements in refrigerating apparatusan vided with freezing chambers and used in j, mechanically refrigeratedcabinets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedrefrigerating element having a freezing chamber arranged to receiveeither a single deep freezing container or a number of shallowcontainers.

The present invention contemplates an improvement in the arrangementshown in the application of Harry B. Hull, Serial No.

196,062, filed June 2, 1927, in WhlCll a re- 18 frigerating element isdescribed having a large freezing chamber in which means are providedintermediate its top and bottom for supporting a removable shelf orpartition-which divides the chamber into a plu- $0 rality of smallercompartments. In accordance with the present invention, it is an objectto provide means for preventing the unlntentional or accidental removalof this partition when the trays containing congealed foodstuffs arewithdrawn.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide means forpreventing movement of the front of the shelf in a vertical directionand means preventing move- 80 ment of the back end of the shelf in ahorizontal direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for covering the gapwhich occurs between containers inserted in the individual smallcompartments provided by the partition.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a refrigerator cabinetshowing the improved refrigerating element, certain parts being brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the re- 5o frigerating elementcorresponding to Fig.

more particularly to refrigerating elements pro- 1 but provided withthree freezing trays instead of two";

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, the freezing trays beingshown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, the trays being shown inelevation;

Fig. 5 is a pers tive view of one form of removable shel Fig. 6 is aperspective view of another form of removable shelf;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a refrigerating elementshowing shelflocking means.

In using a refri erating:v element of the kind referred to, suTistancesto be congealed or frozen are placed in freezing trays or ice-makingcontainers which are placed in freezing chambers within therefrigerating element where they are subjected to the low temperatureproduced by the apparatus. When using a freezing chamber adapted forholding either deep or shallow containers as shown in the Hullapplication referred to, it may occur that the shelf or partition usedto adapt the chamber for a pair of shallow trays will freeze to thebottom of the upper tray. This may cause the shelf to be withdrawnunintentionally with the upper tray, and it frequently happens that incases of such unsuspected withdrawal the ice bond breaks or melts,letting the shelf drop, and this may cause personal injury to the user.or damage to the shelf or other objects. .By providing means forreventing such accidental withdrawal of t e shelf these disadvantagesare removed.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator cabinet havinginsulating walls 10 and an internal partition 11 dividing the cabinetinto a food storage compartment 12 and a cooling compartment 13, thelatter containing a refrigerating element generally denoted by 15. Therefrigerating element may include a header 16 adapted to contain aquantity of volatile liquid refrigerant maintained at a constant leveltherein by any suitable float mechanism, not shown. Liquid refrigerantis supplied to the header, and gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from theheader through suitable conduits 17 and 18 respectively, by any suitablerefrigerating apparatus. Connected to the header and depending therefromare duct loops 20 which define a freezing space within which is placedany suitable number of enclosures forming freezing chambers which arethermally connected to the ducts. As shown in the drawings two-freezingchambers, in the form of sheet metal enclosures or sleeves are provided,one being a relatively shallow sleeve 22 for the reception of a singleice-making container or freezing tray 23, and the other being arelatively deep chamber 24 adapted to receive a relatively -deepfreezing container 25. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 one end of each freezinchamber is open to receive the trays and the other end is closed by aback wall 22a or 25a.

In order that the deep chamber 24 may be used to receive a pair ofrelatively shallow containers 23, instead of the deep container 25, theenclosure is provided between its top and bottom with a pair ofoppositely disposed ledges 26 which are preferably formed by stampingU-shaped portions in the side walls of the enclosure 24. The ledges formsupporting means for a removable shelf 28, which when it is in place,sub-divides the freezing chamber 24 into a pair of compartments 24b and24a (Figs. 2 and 4) each adapted to receive a shallow freezing tray 23.The shelf forms a heat conducting member for transferring heat from theupper tray 23 to the walls of the freezing enclosure 24 and thus to therefrigerant within the ducts 20.

As shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, each of the shallow freezing traysincludes a container proper 23 and a tray front 23a having an integrallyformed handle 23b. The tray fronts act as closures for the open ends ofthe freezing chambers and are preferably made of material of higholishability, such as monel, for the sake of appearance. Each tray frontis connected to and spaced from the tray proper by arms 23c and 23d.When the tray is pushed into the chamber as far as it will go, the trayfront 23a places the front end of the container 23 behind the end of andwell within the sleeve 22. This prevents any water which may condensearound the front of the sleeve from dripping into the tray. The upperarm 230 is disposed below the level of the ed e of the container 23 sothat any water ripping onto the arm cannot flow into the tray.

Likewise the deep tray includes a container proper 25 and a tray front25a similarly spaced from the container by vertical arms 25 riveted toextensions 250 on the side walls of the container 25.

The front of the cooling compartment 13 is provided by a vertical wall30 having an opening 31 somewhat larger than the ends of the freezingchambers. A shield 32 in the general form of a frustum of a pyramid andhaving a lip 33 surrounding and closing the opening 31 is attached atits smaller end to the freezing chambers 22 and 24. As shown best inFigs. 3 and 4 the upper side of the smaller end of the shield isprovided with a lip 35 which fits against the top of the freezingchamber 22 and the lower side of the smaller end of the shield has acorresponding lip 36 which fits against the bottom wall of the freezingchamber 24. The sides of the shield adjacent the freezing chambers areprovided with extensions 37, which are secured to the side walls of thefreezing chambers 22 and 24 by means of screws 38. The screws 38 alsosupport buffers 39 against which the tray fronts 23a and 25a abut whenthe drawers are placed in the freezin chambers. The bufl'ers space thetray routs a short distance from the shield 32 in order to preventfreezing of the tray fronts to the latter. However, the opening betweenthe tray fronts and the shield is small enou h to prevent anyappreciable circulation 0 air into the freezing chambers. The trayfronts thus substantially close the open ends of the chambers. with aU-shaped bar 40 extending across the opening 31 and between the chambers22 and 24 in order to cover any gap between the two sleeves 22 and 24.

When two shallow trays 23 are used in the compartment 24 there isnecessarily a gap 45 between the tray fronts 23a due to the spaceoccupied b the ledges 26. This gap is unsightly an may permit relativelywarm air from the cabinet to circulate into the freezing chamber andthus tend to melt the ice in periods during which the refrigeratingapparatus is not operating. In order to cover this gap I provide a lipon the front end of the removable shelf. This lip may be made integralthe shelf as by soldering it to the shelf or by bending down the frontend of the shelf. The former method of construction is indicated in Fi 5wherein 28 indicates the shelf, to the firont end of which is soldered aU-shaped member having a vertical lip 60, a ledge 61 to facilitateattachment to the shelf, and a horizontal flange or lip 62 whichprojects under the front ends of the ledges 26 to lock the front end ofthe shelf against vertical movement. The ends of the 'U-shaped memberroject beyond the sides of the shelf, and the projecting por- Ytions ofthe flanges 61 and 62 are turned back as at 63 for the sake ofappearance and to permit the flange 62 to hook under the ledges 26.Preferably the member is formed of material of high polishability, forexample monel,.which is desirable from the stand- The shield 32 also isprovided point of appearance to match the tray fronts. .lt isundesirable to make the entire shelf of the monel both because of thehigh cost of that metal and also because the latter is a poor conductorof heat, the shelf usually being made of a metal of high thermalconductivity such as copper.

In Fig. 6 another form of shelf 28a is shown in which the lip 60a andthe fiange (32a are made by simply bending the front end of the shelf.

'In order to prevent accidental Withdrawal of the shelf the ledges 26terminate short of the back of the freezing chamber 24, as shown in Fig.7, and provide a shoulder which is adapted to engage a shoulder 71formed by bending down the back end of the shelf 28. \Vhen the shelf isin place the shoulders cooperate to prevent horizontal withdrawal of theshelf; Consequently if a tray freezes to a shelf, as often happens, thetray may be withdrawn, breaking the ice bond and leaving the shelf heldin place by the shoulders. The shoulders are placed at the back endofthe shelf in order that the front end of the shelf may be lockedagainst vertical movement, while the back end may be raisedindependently of the front end to disengage the shoulders and permitwithdrawal of the shelf in ahorizontal direction.

l/Vhen a user finds a tray frozen to the shelf, the normal tendency isto lift up on the handle to separate the front end .of the tray from theshelf in order to break the ice bond between the shelf and the tray.

Since the front end of the shelf is locked against vertical movement,the shelf will be held in place and permit the ice bond to be broken bythis method. And since the back end of the shelf is locked againsthorizontal movement, the shelf cannot slide out when the tra iswithdrawn. Thus the shelf is firmly loc ed in the chamber againstaccidental removal, but may be readily removed when desired simply bytipping the back end up until the shoulders become disengaged, and thendrawing the shelf out horizontally.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure adapted to receive icemakingcontainers, shelf supporting means in the enclosure, a shelf forseparatingthe enclosure into a pair of compartments each adapted toreceive a container, a lip on the shelf for covering the gap between thefronts of the containers placed in the compartments, and meansprojecting from the lip and engaging. the enclosure to prevent verticalmovement of the shelf.

2. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure adapted to receive icemakingcontainers, shelf supporting means in the enclosure, a shelf forseparating the enclosure into a pair of compartments each adapted toreceive a container, an integral lip on the shelf for covering the gapbetween the fronts of the containers placed in the compartments, andmeans projecting from the lip and engaging the enclosure to preventvertical movement of the shelf.

3. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure adapted to receive icemakingcontainers, shelf supporting means in the enclosure, a shelf forseparating the enclosure into a pair of compartments each adapted toreceive a container, and a lip on the shelf for covering the gap betweenthe fronts of the containers placed in the compartments, said lip beingformed of material adapted to take a high polish, and means projectingfrom the lip and engaging the enclosure to prevent vertical movement ofthe shelf.

4. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure adapted to receive icemakingcontainers, shelf supporting means in the enclosure, a shelf forseparating the enclosure into a pair of compartments each adapted toreceive a container, and a lip on the shelf for covering the gap betweenthe fronts of the containers placed in the compartments, said lip beingformed of material different from that of the shelf, and meansprojecting from the lip and engaging the enclosure to prevent verticalmovement of the shelf.

5. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure adapted to receive icemakingcontainers, said enclosure having an a open end and a closed end, shelfsupporting means in the enclosure, a removable shelf for separating theenclosure into a pair of compartments each adapted to receive acontainer, the end of the shelf at the open end of the enclosure beingbent to form both an integral vertical lip for covering the gap betweenthe fronts of the containers in the compartments, and a horizontal lipprojecting from the vertical lip and engaging the enclosure to preventvertical movement of the shelf.

6. Refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure open at the front and adapted toreceive ice-making containers, a ledge in said enclosure for supportinga shelf, a removable shelf on the ledge separating the enclosure into apair of compartments each adapted to receive a container, said shelfbeing removable through the open front while the ledge is maintained inosition and an integral hook on said shel engaging the ledge to preventvertical movement of the front end of the shelf when said shelf is inposition.

7. Refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure adapted to receive icemakingcontainers, shelf supporting means in the enclosure, a shelf on saidsupporting means for separating the enclosure into a pair ofcompartments each adapted to receive a container, a vertical lipprojecting from the shelf for covering the gap between containers placedin the compartments and means projecting from said 11p and engaging theenclosure to prevent vertical movement of the shelf.

8. A refrigerating element for refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination a freezing enclosure ada ted to receive icemakingcontainers, she f supporting means in the enclosure, a removable shelfadapted to separate the enclosure into a plurality of compartments eachadapted to receive a container, cooperatin and enclosure a apted toprevent withdrawal of the shelf in a horizontal direction, a verticallip on one end of the shelf for closing the space between the fronts ofthe contalners .in the compartments, and means on the lip engaging theshelf supporting means to prevent vertical movement of that end of theshelf.

In testimony whereof we hereto affix our signatures.

HENRY P. BRAEUTIGAM. GRANVILLE S. DIGKEY.

shoulders on said shelf a

